Trading Marriott for Disney - Success stories?

[hliw Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close hliw]

Has anyone had success trading a Marriott TS week for a Disney Vacation Club week? We own Platinum at Marriott's Ocean Watch in Myrtle Beach and have had tremendous trading success (St. Johns Frenchman's Cove, St. Kitts, Aruba Ocean Club, Horizon's Orlando). We would like to go to WDW in March of 2009 and have a search going now for the Boardwalk, Wildnerness and BeachClub Villas. Our desired trip is 15 months out.

I am curious about two things:
1) has anyone had success trading into a Disney property (which one)
2) We cannot go smaller than a 1 bedroom with Kitchen but would prefer a two bedroom. Would requesting a 2 bedroom minimize our chances for a successful exchange?

Any sucess stories, tips, etc. would be most appreciated.


Best,
HLIW

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Has anyone had success trading a Marriott TS week for a Disney Vacation Club week? We own Platinum at Marriott's Ocean Watch in Myrtle Beach and have had tremendous trading success (St. Johns Frenchman's Cove, St. Kitts, Aruba Ocean Club, Horizon's Orlando). We would like to go to WDW in March of 2009 and have a search going now for the Boardwalk, Wilderness and Beach Club Villas. Our desired trip is 15 months out.

I am curious about two things:
1) has anyone had success trading into a Disney property (which one)
2) We cannot go smaller than a 1 bedroom with Kitchen but would prefer a two bedroom. Would requesting a 2 bedroom minimize our chances for a successful exchange?

Any success stories, tips, etc. would be most appreciated.


Best,
HLIW

to TS4Ms.....

Once you have 15 posts you will be able to see the sightings board where exchange opportunities are posted - and you will see the Disney trades available.

I have traded into DVC several times.
March is a popular time to go but not impossible.

I would suggest.......
1. add Old Key West and Saratoga Springs to your request - both are very nice resorts and probably gets deposited the most - OKW because you need less DVC points to reserve there and SSR because they are still in active sales.
2. Call II back and tell them you are willing to pay a second exchange fee ($139) to get a studio/1BR combination if it becomes available for your resort/date. You can also do this with Marriotts - if you are trading a 2BR unit and all they have available are studios and 1BRs for your date - by paying a second exchange fee you can get the whole 2BR.
3. This isn't Easter week, is it? If you are looking to exchange the week of Easter, your chances are greatly reduced as it cost DVC members many more points to reserve holiday weeks.
That being said, one of our members was at the Beach Club or Boardwalk resort the week of Christmas in a studio.
4. It is REALLY good to have your request in 15 months out - you are first in line.

Let us know how u make out!!!

[hliw Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close hliw]

Great tips, Pat!

Pat, thank you so much. I am going to call re: the 1 bedroom/studio combination - great tip. The time requested is not Easter week, so we'll see. I'll let you know. We are fairly new to Marriott; we previously owned an RCI affiliated resort so I get the basic drill. I'd have never known about the 1bed/studio option without you, though. Thanks, again. HLIW

BTW - this site is fantastic. I've bookmarked it for future reference.

[hliw Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close hliw]

One more question for Pat

I called and requested the studio/1 bedroom combo. Should I alter my request from a 2 bedroom to a 1 bedroom? What will give me the best odds? Thanks again.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Pat, thank you so much. I am going to call re: the 1 bedroom/studio combination - great tip. The time requested is not Easter week, so we'll see. I'll let you know. We are fairly new to Marriott; we previously owned an RCI affiliated resort so I get the basic drill. I'd have never known about the 1bed/studio option without you, though. Thanks, again. HLIW

BTW - this site is fantastic. I've bookmarked it for future reference.

Your welcome - but wait until tomorrow when the regular staff is on at II...I will pm you a phone number and extension I always use.
When they answer, a recoding will tell you 'you have reached the executive offices.....and when u hit the extension in - they will answer 'you have reached the Marriott Desk'
Has that been your experience????

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I called and requested the studio/1 bedroom combo. Should I alter my request from a 2 bedroom to a 1 bedroom? What will give me the best odds? Thanks again.

No, you still want the 2BR - you are just letting them know you are 'open' to paying the second fee if need be.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Okay, check your pm - to access - click on the link on the right top of the screen for personal messages.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

hilw.....Welcome to TS4M's!!!

Pat has given you very good advice. Good luck with your request!!

BTW....I have even gotten a DBV with a Marriott AC, about 6-7 months out. I think you have a very good chance, although March is a popular month.....Spring Brk, & Easter.

[dioxide45 Member Find all posts View Profile Close dioxide45]

3. This isn't Easter week, is it? If you are looking to exchange the week of Easter, your chances are greatly reduced as it cost DVC members many more points to reserve holiday weeks.

I beleive DVC selects the week that it deposits in to II. Unlike Marriott a DVC owner doesn't reserve a week and then deposit that week in to II. Unlikely that DVC will deposit Easter weeks since it can likely rent those on their own for good $$$.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I beleive DVC selects the week that it deposits in to II. Unlike Marriott a DVC owner doesn't reserve a week and then deposit that week in to II. Unlikely that DVC will deposit Easter weeks since it can likely rent those on their own for good $$$.

Hmmmm...I know Starwood does - not sure about DVC??? But holiday weeks are always tough - requesting early is the key.

[Lisa P Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lisa P]

If you are successful in getting 2 separate exchanges for a 1BR/studio combo, there are a couple negatives to consider:

*** It's not guaranteed that DVC will accommodate your request to combine them so you could potentially end up with units which are not next to each other, especially since that's a busy time period when the resort will be pretty full.

*** You'll need to pay the additional exchange fee for the "2nd" unit.

*** You'll need to pay the additional DVC fee ($95?) for the "2nd" unit.

Given that you're offering such a strong trade week and you're requesting it early, I'd put in the search request for a 2BR at all of the Disney resorts: BCV, DBW, DSS, DVO, DWL (and add the new Villas at Animal Kingdom Lodge if they eventually come online too). About 9 months out, if you haven't gotten a match, I'd THEN let them know that you would be willing to accept a 1BR. But that's just me.

Hope you get what you're seeking. Keep watching the sightings forum (once you have enough posts here to see it) - it'll be quite useful!

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

I have posted one or two Easter sightings. If I remember correctly, they were at SS. I posted them a few months back.

I have seen DVC posted for just about every holiday. However, they are not normally two bdrms. That would certainly be rare, and most likely show up last minute, if at all.